Game plan

As you prepare to analyze the Bruins, some thoughts from Alaska:

1. The B's were obviously a very low scoring team
2. There are nice guys on a team like this that must go for the betterment of the team. Warm fuzzies aside, some players do not have the ability or the strentght or the savvy to bring this team to a Stanley Cup contender.
3. Thomas is one that could be questionable, but day-in and day-out he has proven himself.
4. The other goalie's have not. Tho' Auld's 3 shutouts are significant. ... Fernandez was sub-par when he was playing ... trade him or let him go ... he is not the future...
5. D-men: Ference is a liability ... likeable as he is .... Chara (Our Captain!) has a significant downside ... he is way overpaid (national opinion) and the B's could get improve for less salary ... trading him now would not be a bad idea if the B's could get value.... Wideman is ok and may improve on his defense The B's have a series of young d-men that they can develop ...
6. Forwards ... As much as he has been with this team, "Muzz" should be gone ... he is a one trick pony and his holdings and hookings illustrate someone who is slowing down in todays game. Metropolit should also be gone. He is too weak and unskilled to be a top three line forward. I know he tries and gives all he has, but if the B's are to improve, they won't if he is still on the team. Axey should go or he should be relegated to a penalty killer and 4th liner. It is symbolic of the B's that he plays on some of the top lines. He cannot score aand he is really not big enough to do any damage physically. If scoring is to improve he cannot be in the mix. This team, more than anything slse, needs a proven goal scorer. (and it is not Savard) Kessel might develop when he grows up as may Krecji ... but the Bruins do not usually go to the net because they are too samll and weak (that is why the Thornton line looks good -- they are big enough to get the job done ... just are not skilled enough. Now that I mentioned it, this team cannot have Reich and Thornton at the same time ...They need to substitute in a skilled forward for one of them. Schaefer is marginal at best. Kobasew may continue to improve. Bergeron can score but he makes too many bad passes and is a defensive liability. He is also one of those many forwards who lacks grit and strength.

There is hope ... but standing pat with some of the clinkers on this team is not the answer. Maybe they can win a few more games, but will not improve enough to get out of the first round unless they make some significant moves.

Its a bit Ironic that Harry Sinden had some harsh words for this team and its players when in reality, all Peter Charelli has done since arriving is clean up the mess left behind by Sinden and the incompetent Mike O'Connell. Also, Mark Savard somehow managed to finish the season with 63 assists, and the playoffs with 6 assists whil playing on a line with Glen Murray (NO POINTS in the playoffs and 17 goals in the regular season). Give the man some credit!!! Its like playing with 4.5 men out there. The only reason Murray counts as 1/2 a man is because he's mass on the ice, other than that, he's become invisible...

Are you kidding me Bob?

Bergeron lacks defense and makes dumb passes? and also does not have strenght? What are you smoking?...

Bergeron came into the league of a reputation of being a very good all around player, and he has proven that so far. He can hit, score and pass. Living in Alaska i would imagine you would have acess to some of the Canadiens channels that held the World Hockey tournament. Better yet ask Mr. Crosby how good of a playmaker Bergeron really is. He makes everyone around him better. And Wideman getting better at defesne? No way, he will ALWAYS be marginal at best, he is not a defensive defensemen sorry to say. If you can't analyze a player's strenght and weakness properly, you should just stay away from these boards.

Boston is on the rise, just check out these up and coming kids:

Matt Hunwick

Matt Lashoff

Mark Staurt

Zach Hamill

Brad Marchand

Carl Soderberg

Vladimire Sobotka

Petteri Nokalinen

Phil Kessel

Milan Lucic

Tuuka Rask

The future is bright!!!!

I would like to see the B's bring in 2 more of their young forwards they have drafted
or traded for in the last 2 years. I've seen Brad Marchand play once in the WJC on TV and impressed me with his speed/skill and grit. He is the type of energy player we could use more of. I've yet to see either of Carl Soderberg and Mikko Lehtonen.
I've read alot about the skill level of these players, with Soderberg projected as a top 6 forward and Lehtonen a 6:04 skill winger. That type of forward is not easy to find. I know they are both under contract.

If they can bring two or three in and move on from Murray, Axelsson and Metropolit
it would seem to me that bringing back/in Bergeron, Kobasew, Marchand & Lehtonen would increase our speed and possibly skill and maybe free up some cap space as buying out Murray and trading PJ would free up as much as $2M in cap $$. (Murray/Axe $$ minus Marchand/Soderberg/Lehtonen $$). As for Bergy please get in reality, he is one of the top 10 forwards 23 and under in the NHL.

... I don't doubt that Bergeron is a decent forward and could be one of the best in the league ... If he would not make bad, blind passes high in the offensive zone and tighten up his defense (he has had minus ratings at times while having accumulated a significant amount of points) ... he also tends to force his passes rather than exercise patience ... This should be a matter of maturity and discipline.... As for Wideman, he is marginal defensively, I agree, though he has improved under Julian during this year.(particularly on offense)